Gartner analysts describe what’s happening in video today as similar to mobile computing 3-5 years ago. It’s at the beginning of the big explosion and everyone wants to know more about how to successfully implement all forms of video in their enterprise.

Video in the enterprise comes in many forms and styles including events, on-demand, sharing and collaboration, mobile video, surveillance, and digital signage.

Collaborative video can take various forms and there’s a purpose to each. These include personal or desktop video, small room or group video, video appliances with executive endpoints, HD group video systems, and immersive telepresence. Understanding the differences and the various outcomes each offers, is a key to understanding what’s best for the enterprise – and we must help those in the business define their expectations to determine what technology best fits their need.

In the telepresence marketplace Cisco, Polycom, Tandberg, and Teliris rated most positive. And now that Cisco purchased Tandberg, analysts are further optimistic in this space.

Network architecture and infrastructure is a key component to successful video deployment in the enterprise. Have a collective and strategic approach to both the network and video deployment are a must going forward.